Vacuum-feed tank



J A DIENNER VACUUM FEED TANK J Fil ed Oct. 29. 1923 I SUCTIN A il 20,1926.-.

11 Ill! 11/ 1! Patented Apr. 2%), 1%26.

memes JOHN A, DIENhlER OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VACUUM-FEED TANK.

Application filed October 29, 1923. Serial No. 671,281.

To all whom it may cancer-n:

The present invention is an improvement upon the prior devices shown inmy copending application, Serial No. 166,2d8, filed May 2, 1921. In thatapplication I disclose and claim the fundamental idea of operating themain valve by a fluid pressure operated motor, which motor is controlledby certain pilot valves.

The present application discloses a structure in which there is but asingle pilot control valve governed by a single float and a single mainvalve for controlling the operation of the entire device, that is, foradmitting air to exhaust the pumping chamber and to discharge liquidfuel therefrom.

A further feature of novelty resides in the'mounting of the float andpilot valve so as to assist the motor in its function of opening andclosing the. main valve in addition to performing its main function ofclosing and opening the pilot valve. My invention also makes possiblethe use of a relatively large air admission valve which may be opened inadvance of the opening of the main valve this valve serving as a reliefvalve to admit air in advance of opening the main valve which dumps theliquid fuel.

Further features of novelty reside in combinations of parts and detailsof construction which will be apparent from the following detaileddescription.

The fundamental object of the present invention is to provide a simpleand inexpensive construction, together with reliability and durability.As an instance of this. I wish to point out that in the preferred formofmy invention not a single'spring re.

quired, yet all of the operations of the valves are carried on with asnapand certaintv by a con'ibinat-ion of weight and pneumatic action.

In to acquaint those skilledinthc art with. themanner' of constructingand op misting my invention, .l. shall now d.

particular embodiment of the same in connection with the accompanyingdrawings .in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a form of tank embodying. myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of pilot valveand sleeve to be mounted upon the operating. stem of the main valve; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the device;

The present device is well adapted for quantity manufacture as looselits arepermissible. no springs are required, none of the valves need tofit absolutely tight, and the main valve is held to its seat by airpressure. hence it tends always to seat firmly. In addition, the partsare so organizedand constructed that the float and pilot valve mechanismassists the motor in its operation of actuating themain valve. The floatand pilot valve mechanism alsoserves as positive means for closing themain valve and also the relief valve, if such is employed.

Referring now to Fig; 1, I have shown the vacuum tank as comprising anvupper or pumping chamber 1 and a lower'or reservoir chamber 2. The upperchamber 1 is defined by the top member 3, bottom member 4; and

side wall member 5. The top and sidewall members 3 and 5' are connectedtogether by means of suitable flanges 6 and 7 which are preferablyfastened by suitable screws 8. The reservoir 2 is defined by thecylindrical tank member 9"having the bottom 10 which has a suitableoutlet 11 for supplying gasoline to the carburetor or other device whichis fed from the reservoir 2. The tank 9 tom 4, The bottom part 4'- has arelatively large valve port 18 defined by a circular flange 19 whichforms a seat for the dumping. valve 20. This duln ping valve QUhas anadjustable, stem 21 threaded therethiiipgh and loclredbymeaiis tilttheloclt nut 22; The

stem 21 is pivoted at 23 to the lever 24, a suitable low level tank forproviding gasowhich lever 24 in turn is pivoted at its center part 25 tothe bottom wall 4 of the upper tank portion. The opposite arm of thelever 24 is pivoted loosely, as indicatec at 26 to the operating stem27, which oper ating stem is secured at its upper end to the movablemotor element 28, which in this case comprises a flexible metal diaphragm. The stem 27 is threaded at its upper end and the two clampingplate members 29 and 30 are threaded and looked upon opposite sides ofthe diaphragm 28 to the stem 27. After the diaphragm plates 29 and 30are threaded upon opposite sides of the diaphragm 28 and secured to thestem 27, a hole is drilled therethrough and a short piece of tubing 31is pressed thereinto, this piece of tubing depending as shown in thedrawing and forming a valve seat. The opening through the tube terms apassage way. The opening through the tube 31 is controlled by a discvalve 32 borne upon the upper end of the sleeve 33, which sleeve fitsloosely upon the operating stem 27. At its lower end the sleeve 33 isadapted to engage the adjacent end of the main valve operating lever 24.This sleeve has a flange 34 upon which the float 35 is adapted to restwhen the float is in its lowermost position. Thus the weight of thefloat and the valve sleeve 3 rests upon the adjacent end of the valveoperating lever arm 24 to close the valve 20. The lost motion at thepoint or" connection F between the stem 27 and the valve operating lever24 permits the weight or" the valve and float to close the main valve20, independently of diaphragm 28.

The upper plate member 29 has upon its upper face a conical plug valve36 which registers with the passageway 38 formed in the threaded sleeve39. This threaded sleeve has a central passageway which com municateswith the suction connection {or the tank, The pipe socket 40 is adaptedto receive a suitable pipe connection running to the intake manifold ofthe engine for with drawing air through the passageway 38. This threadedsleeve 39 may be moved up or down, placed in proper position so thatwhen thediaphragm 28 is raised to its uppermost position, the floatmember 36 will obstruct and substantially shut oil eomnninicationbetween the source of suction and the motor chamber 41, which is formedbetween the top of the diaphragm 28 and the adjacent portion of the top3. The diaphragm 28 is formed with suitably depending flanges fittinginto a cylindrical housing 43 to which said depending flanges 42 aresecurely fastened, as by soldering the edges together.

The top member 3 has a suitable pipe socket 44 for connectiong thegasoline supply pipe, which gasoline supply pipe runs to line or suchother liquid as is to be pumped.

Fig. 2 shows how the sleeve 33 may be cut away to avoid the jamming ofscale or dirt between the sleeve and the operating stem 27. The float 35should fit loosely upon the sleeve 33 so as to be guided freely up anddown along said sleeve fr in high ta low level and reverse.

T he operation of the device shown in Fig; 1 is as follows :Assumingthat the parts are in the condition shown and that the socket 40 issuitably connected to suction and the socket 44 suitably connected to alow level supply tank for drawing liquid. The weight of the float andpilot valve closes the main valve 20. Suction enters through thepassageway and through the valye port in the pipe 31. As soon as suctionenters the chamber 1 the valve 20 is immediately held to its seat by thedifference in pre. sure between the inside of the chamber and atnosphere. As liquid fills the chamber the float rises along the sleeveuntil the chain-- her is substantially :tull, whereupon the float 35hits the valve disc 32 and its connected sleeve 33 into contact with theend 04 the tube 31, thereby closing oil the suction connection to theinterior of the chamber 1. Upon further withdrawal of air from the motorchamber 41, the valve disc 32 tends to be held upon th end of the tube31 by suction, and at the same th e the d nerence in pressure upon thetwo sides of the diaphragm 28 causes said motor member to rise, pullingupward upon the adjacent end of the lever 24 and thrusting down thevalve 20 to open it against the pressure of atmosphere which tends tohold it closed. Immediately the COIltQIltS of the pumping chamber 1begin to discharge and air begins to enter the large opening it so thatthe liquid contents is quickly dumped. It will be noted that there is nomeans other than the valve 20 for admitting air, and that this valvetherefore not only controls the admission of air, but also the dinupingof liquid.

As the liquid contents fall, the float 35 is guided downwardly along thestem 33, but the suction of the engine operating through the opening inthe tube 31 upon the disc 3:13 holds said disc against said. openinguntil the float descenes against the flange 34. The weight of the floatin addition to its oscil lating motion as it rises and falls, due to theluib-bling of air through the liquid causes the valve 32 to be pulledfrom its seat against the tube 31 and to descend against the adjacentend of the arm 24 causing it to close the valve 20 at substantially thesame time that the suction connection 31 is opened.

The obstruction of the passageway 38 by the valve is not essential, asthese parts may he so proportioned that the opening of the passageway 31will at oncesufliciently relieve the dilicrencein pressure upon thediaphragm 28' to cause it todescend to such a point as wilt-permit thefloat and connected rarts to substantially' close the valve where itwill be sucked ordraavnto its-seat by lowering of pressure in thepumping chamber 1-. I- prefer to' use the valve 36, since by so doingthe connection front suction totheval-ve' chamber 41 is so greatlyreduced that the air entering through the passageway in the tube 31willquickly reduce the pressure in said chambered. to such a point as topermit the diaphragm 28 to descend.

As shown in Fig. have provided a flat disc valve 36 adapted. to seatagainst the lower end of the tube=38 so-that this flat. disc valve maybeheld fairly tight against the valve port on the cnd of the nipple39'to permit equalization in pressures upon opposite sides of thediaphragnr 28 toquite a: degree before suction is again connectedthrough the diaphragm chamber 4-1 and the pumping chamber 1.

I have also shown the valve seat whiclr is formed upon the lowerdiaphragm plate as being formed by an annular groove 4E6 which gives arelatively large area cooperatingwith the'valve plate or disc 32 whichis mounted upon the upper end of the stem orsleeve 33?}. In the" presentcase, instead of having a traveling-float, 1' have provided two floats,namely, a. high level float i7 and a lowv level float 48;, which aresecured upon saidi sleeve 33?. The buoyancy of the float 4:8 issubstantially sufficient to. equal the Weight of; the valve and stem32", 33 and: the upper float 47, so that when the liquid reaches 'therupper float 47, said float is eft'ectiveto apply. the valve 32 toitsseat; Theweightof the two floats 4C7 andASwith their connected. partsis suflicient to close the valve, which in this case consist of. a mainvalve memberQO" and a relief valve 50,- which isprovided with a conicalseat facing a similar conical seat 51 formed in the central part of: themain valve 20. The stem 21*. is attached to said conical relief valvewand is'locked thereto by anut 22. The stem 21; is threaded throu 'h amess 'ewa 52 invthe mainv valve 90', so that when the motor diaphragm 28rises and pulls on thestem-ZZ. the lever 24: thrusts the stem 21 down,first opening the relic'f'va-lve 51 andthen thrustingdownthe main valve2.0. The. employment of this relief valve insures a pressuredifferential being secured upon diaphragm 28 adequate to thrust down themain valve 20 against atmospheric pressure on the-outside; The reliefvalve 50' may be made of sufiicient size so that opening thereof willquickly unbalance the motor 28 and cause rapid operation of the entirevalve mechanism.

The pivot 25 for the lever 24 is mounted upcira stenr 5-1 which projectstln oiigh the bottom. t and has a. projecting washer held in: placebyloclc nut 56. This collar 55 projects below the adjacent edge of thevalve member'QO to cause it totilt to assist in washing ofli sedimentand to, controli the action of the discharging:liquid.

VVit-h the modifications above noted, the opcrationaof'this form isfundamentally the same' as the preferred form previously described.

It will be noted that the float mechanism assists instead of opposestheaction of the main motor Since the main valve is large in area,suliic'ient opening may be gained by: at relatively minute travel of:the diaphragm member 28'. The float required is sm'all-,.since' itssol-ework co-nsits in lifting the valve'disc 32 to seat, the motor andthe suction doing the rest of the work. The valves are all opened andclosed with a snap without the use of singlespring.

I do not intend to belimited to thed'etails' shown ordescribed, exceptasthe same appear in the appended claims.

I claim-:-

"l In, a device of the class described, a chamber having a liquidinlet," a combined liquid outlet and air inlet, a suction connectionanda motor. operated: by suction from said connection upon h-igh level inthe chamber for opening the combinedliquid outlet and airinlet.

2. In a device of the classdescribed, a pumping chamber having a liquidinlet, a suction connection, a motor between said suction connectionand" the chamber, an exhaust" valve for admitting atmosphere, a floatfor applying, said valve to itsseat when the chamber issubstantiallyempty and a high level controlled valve for causing the motorto opensaid atmospheric valve' when liquid has filled the pumping chamber;

3. In combination, a, pumping chamber having a liquid admissionconnection, a suction connection and an air admission port in the bottomof said chamber, an airadmission valve seating with pressure and adaptedto be applied to seat when the chamber is substantially empty, and amotorhaving its motor element constantly exposed on one side to thepressure in the chamber and controlled by a high level of'liquid in thechamber for opening said valve against pressure. 7

4. I11 a device of the class described, a pumping chamber having abottom wall, an air admission port through the bottom Wall, an airadmission valve of the lift type seating with pressure upon said port, afluid pressure motor for lifting said valve from its seat, and a highlevel responsive pilot valve for said motor for controlling said motorto open said air admission valve.

5. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a pumping chamber provided with a liquid admissionconnection and an air inlet and liquid discharge valve port, of a poppetvalve adapted to close said port when the chamber is substantially emptyand being adapted to be retained closed by the difference between thepressures in the pumping chamber and the outside thereof, a suctionadmission valve, a fluid actuated motor for opening said poppet valve,and means for closing the suction admission valve and causing the motorto open the exhaust valve when the liquid has substan* tially filled thepumping chamber.

6. In a vacuum tank, a closed pumping chamber, a vacuum chamber, a motormember between said chambers, a port opening between said chambers, adump valve for the pumping chamber, an operating connection between saidmotor member and said dumping valve, and a floatoperated pilot valvecontrolling said port and being guided upon said operating connection.

7. In a vacuum tank, a closed pumping chamber, a dumping valve thereforseating with atmospheric pressure, a motor chamber, a motor memberbetween said chambers, a valve passageway between said chambers, a levelcontrolled valve for obstructing said valve passageway and causing themotor member to open the dumping valve.

8. In a vacuum tank, a closed pumping chamber, a dump valve therefor, afluid pressure operated motor for opening said dump valve, a levelcontrolled device for pneumatically governing said motor and formechanically closing said valve.

9. In a device of the class described, a closed pumping chamber, a motorchamber, a diaphragm between said chambers, a passageway between saidchambers, a dump valve for the pumping chamber, a stem connecting thediaphragm and the dump valve, a pilot valve guided on said stem and afloat for said pilot valve.

10. In combination, a pumping chamber, a dumping valve therefor, saidvalve seating with atmospheric pressure, a motor chamber having a motormember exposed on one side to the interior of the pumping chamberconnected to said dumping valve, level controlled means for applyingsaid pumping valve to its seat and for governing the effectiveapplication of suction to said motor member for opening said dumpingvalve.

11. A vacuum tank having a suction chamber, said chamber having a topwall member including a suction connection, a motor chamber formed belowsaid suction connection, said motor chamber having a flexible wallforming a motor element, an

adjustable valve seat member forming a connection bet-ween the suctionconnection and said motor chamber, a valve member car'- ried by saiddiaphragm for obstructing the passageway through said adjustable member,a stem secured to the diaphragm, a passageway formed through thediaphragm, said passageway terminating in a valve port, and a pilotvalve guided on said stem and controlling said valve port.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pumpingchamber provided with a liquid admission connection, and a combined airinlet and' liquid discharge valve port, of a poppet valve adapted toclose saidport when the chamber is substantially empty and being adaptedto be retained closed by the difference between the pressures in thepumping chamber and the outside thereof, a relief valve, a fluidactuatedmotor for opening said relief valve when the liquid hassubstantially filled the pumping chamber to equalize the pressure l1}said fluid chamber and the outside there- 0 1 13. In a device of theclass described, a pumping chamber having a liquid inlet, a suctionconnection and a combined liquid outlet and air inlet, a compound poppetvalve closing said last named valve port, a suction operated motor foropening said compound valve, and level controlledmeans for applying saidcompound valve to its valve port when the chamber is substanitally emptyand for controlling the motor to open said compound valve when thechamber is substantially filled with liquid.

14. In combination, a pumping chamber having a top wall, a motor chambermounted on said top wall of the pumping chamber, a motor element betweenthe chambers, a downwardly extending stem connected to the motorelement, a dumping valve having a port in the bottom of the pumpingchamber, a lever connecting the valve and the stem, and a float on thestem for closing the valve and controlling the effective application ofsuction to the motor.

15. In combination, a pumping chamber, a motor chamber, a flexiblediaphragm between them, a pair of plates on opposite sides of thediaphragm, a stern connected to said plates, a passageway through saidplates and said diaphragm, a dumping valve for the bottom of the pumpingchamber connected to said stem, and a level control valve guided on saidstem and controlling said passageway.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of Oct.,1923.

JOHN A. DIENNER.

